Ecology Warm Up #1 1.What is a population? 2.What is a community? 3.What type of organism occupies the first level of a food chain? 4.What type of organism occupies the second level of a food chain? Did you know? Astronauts cannot belch there is no gravity to separate liquid from gas in their stomachs All living things need energy to stay alive. This energy comes from the sun. Plants make their food from energy from the sun. Animals get their energy from the food they eat. Animals depend on other living things for food. Some animals eat plants while others eat other animals. This passing of energy from the sun to plants to animals to other animals is called a FOOD CHAIN. food chains food chains quiz antartica food chain energy loss Food Webs Ecological Pyramids Diagram that shows relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in food chain or web. 3 types: Energy Pyramid Biomass Pyramid Pyramid of Numbers Energy Pyramid At each trophic level energy is lost as heat or the organisms biological processes (i.e. respiration, movement, etc.) Total amount stored in organisms body depends on its trophic level. Energy pyramid shows decrease in total energy available at each higher trophic level. Biomass Pyramid BIOMASS total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level. Expressed in grams or organic matter per unit area. Pyramid represents the potential food available for each trophic level. Pyramids that average 10% or better of conversion effiencies are less likely to be disrupted than those with tall skinny pyramids. Pyramid of Numbers Based on the number of organisms at each trophic level. Not all are in the shape of a pyramid, for example a tree (the producer) houses several different insects and birds but it is only one organism. pyramid of biomass The Movement of Energy Through Ecosystems: Loss of Energy in a Food Chain This loss of energy is known as the 10% Rule or Octet rule. Ex. A plant receives 9,000kcal of energy from the sun. How much energy does the tertiary consumer receive? Energy Loss in an organism Energy loss in a food chain. Warm Up #3 1.What are the two main forms of energy that power living systems? 2.What proportion of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next in an ecosystem? 3.What two processes use the most amount of energy in a food chain? (Where does the lost energy go) What shapes an Ecosystem? Abiotic and Biotic Factors ABIOTIC FACTORS physical, NONLIVING parts of a habitat. Ex. Soil, water, weather, temperature. BIOTIC FACTORS all LIVING parts in a habitat. Together these factors determine the survival and growth of an organism and the productivity of an ecosystem. Niche vs. Habitat Niche the role or job an organism performs within an ecosystem. Its occupation. Ex. A jaguars niche includes its diet, reproduction methods, and time of activity. Habitat place where a particular population of a species lives. The physical location. Its address. Ex. A jaguar's habitat is the jungle of South America. The niche Species may not share the same niche but can occupy niches that are very similar. Bay-Breasted Warbler Feeds in the middle part of the tree Yellow-Rumped Warbler Feeds in the lower part of the tree and at the bases of the middle branches Cape May Warbler Feeds at the tips of branches near the top of the tree Spruce tree Community Interactions 1.Competition occurs when different species try to use the same ecological resources at the same place and same time. Direct competition will result in a winner and loser the loser failing to survive. 2.Predation one organism captures and feeds on another organism. PREDATOR does the killing PREY organism that is killed 3.Symbiosis relationship in which 2 species live closely together literally means living together 3 types 1. Mutualism 2. Commensalism 3. Parasitism 1. Mutualism Relationship where BOTH participating species BENEFIT. They cannot live without each other. Ex. Honeypot ants and aphids 1. Mutualism 2. Commensalism Only one organism benefits, the other organism neither benefits or is harmed. 3. Parasitism One organism benefits by harming another organism, WITHOUT KILLING THEIR HOST! Normally smaller than their host. Ex. Dogs with fleas Sea lamprey and fish Succession Series of predictable changes that occurs in a community over time. 1. Primary succession occurs where no soil existed before. Ex. After volcanic eruption or rock exposed after a glacier melts. PIONEER SPECIES first species to populate the area. Normally lichens Primary Succession 2.Secondary succession occurs where there has been previous growth. Many times after a fire, abandoned farms Some plants have adapted to a regular cycle of fire and re-growth seeds will not sprout unless exposed to fire Does not always end up exactly like the first community. Secondary Succession Succession in a Marine Ecosystem Caused when a whale dies and sinks to the normally barren ocean floor. Whale dies. Body colonized. Over time the colonies change as succession continues. Cycling of Materials in Ecosystems Energy is crucial to an ecosystem but all organisms also need water, minerals and other life sustaining compounds to survive. Physical parts of the ecosystem cycle constantly. In most organisms 95% of their body is made up of just four substances 1. Carbon 2. Hydrogen 3. Oxygen 4. Nitrogen Recycling in the biosphere Unlike the one way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES connects biological (living), geological and chemical aspects of the biosphere. Cycling of Materials in Ecosystems: The Water Cycle Evaporation from plants condensation Most fresh water is not available for human use, it is locked up in polar ice caps, only.001 % of fresh water is available for humans and we are running out of it fast! Not pictured is RESPIRATION from animals, another way water is released into the atmosphere. water that is retained under the Earths surface Cycling of Materials in Ecosystems: The Carbon Cycle -Key ingredient in living tissue -Calcium carbonate makes up skeletons and rocks -Carbon dioxide important component of the atmosphere Four processes move carbon through its cycle 1.Biological (living)photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition 2.Geochemical erosion and volcanic activity release carbon dioxide 3.Biogeochemical burial and decomposition of dead organisms and their conversion under pressure into coal and fossil fuels 4.Human activities mining, burning fossil fuels Cycling of Materials in Ecosystems: The Carbon Cycle Add diagram from book Releases CO 2 Human activity burning fossil fuels and mining release CO 2 Decomposition and deposition turn CO2 into fossil fuels and coal Living Cycling of Materials in Ecosystems: The Nitrogen Cycle Required to make amino acids. 1. Atmosphere is 78% nitrogen gas -form is not useable by most organisms. Only some bacteria can use this form directly. Live in legumes, convert nitrogen to ammonia in a process called nitrogen fixation. 2. Once converted producers use them make proteins. 3. Consumers eat the producers and reuse the nitrogen to make their proteins. 4. When any one organisms die the decomposers break down the nitrogen compounds and return them to the soil where it can be taken up again by producers. Other soil bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas in a process called DENTRIFICATION. Nitrates to atmospheric nitrogen Not useable by most organisms, only some bacteria Changing ammonia to nitrates Animals and plants use nitrogen to make proteins The Phosphorus Cycle Used to form DNA and RNA Not common in the biosphere Remains on land in rock, soil minerals or ocean sediment As rocks and sediment wears down phosphorus is released into streams and rivers where it is dissolved Land phosphorus is absorbed by plants from the soil where it moves through the food web Nutrient Limitation Primary productivity rate at which organic matters is created by producers Limiting nutrient ecosystem is limited by a single nutrient that is scarce or cycles slowly Fertilizers are used to combat the limiting nutrient Nutrient limitation in aquatic ecosystems Runoff from heavily fertilized fields often results in an algal bloom the aquatic plants grow rapidly due to the fertilizer. Disrupts equilibrium and causes death to the ecosystem plants are using all of the oxygen blooms can have far reaching effects on the environment. Some can become so dense they can ultimately cause a problem with low oxygen levels. A decrease in oxygen causes hypoxia (low oxygen) or anoxia (no oxygen) and the other organisms in the water that need oxygen to survive, such as fish, become stressed and may die. Other blooms may release toxins that can be harmful to animals.low oxygen Chapter 4Section 3 Biomes The Major Biomes Limiting Factors Affect the distribution of land biomes (where they are located in the world) Temperature Precipitation (rain) 1. Tundra Distinguishing characteristic is its permafrost. PERMAFROST permanent ice found under a thin sheet of soil. The ground in the tundra is always frozen. Animals: Caribou, foxes, owls. Plants: mosses, lichens, small grasses (things without roots, because they cant get in to the frozen ground) 2. Taiga Cold, wet climate Large coniferous forests Long winters and short summers. One of the largest biomes on Earth. Animals: bear, elk, wolves, moose and deer. Plants: pine, fir, evergreens, spruce Found right outside the tundra! 3. Temperate Forest Mild weather. Warm summers, cold winters. Trees loose their leaves in the winter oaks and hickory Home to deer, raccoons, beavers, bears. Houston is located in this biome. 4. Tropical Rain Forest Most diverse biome over 2 million species. Very lush vegetation. High amount of rainfall inches per year. Hot and steamy weather. Supplies many parts of the Earth with oxygen. Animals: Insects, sloth, cougar, primates Tropical Rain Forest Washington State Costa Rica The Amazon River 5. Grassland Called prairies or plains. Highly productive agricultural centers, where most crops are grown Soil is very good. Grazing animals, antelope, buffalo, gazelle Called the breadbasket of the world. 6. Desert Very low rainfall. Sparse vegetation, plants are adapted, cactus Can be found in Texas. Most animals are nocturnal they only come out at night and they are adapted to dry conditions Namib Desert Joshua Trees, Southeastern California